Weight



2 Sheets--Sheet 1. I

(No Model.)

W. W. WAINWRIGHT 8v E. D. JOHNSTON.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING SLACK.

. Patented May 19, 1896.

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on A.

ANDREW EGRAHAM PHOTWUTHQWASHINGTON. DP

(No Model.) I v 2.Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. W. WAINWRIGHT & E. D. JOHNSTON.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING SLACK.

No. 560,381. Patented May 19, 1896.

W ggzventurg W Wrinssses Maw W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILIJIAM IV. IVAINIV RIGHT AND EDGAR D. JOHNSTON, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO THE P. H. & F. M. ROOTS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING SLACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 560,381, dated May 19, 1896. Application filed April 28, 1894.. Serial No. 509,310. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM W. WAIN- WRIGHT and EDGAR D. JOHNSTON, citizens of the United States, and residents of Oonnersville, in the county of Fayette and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Moving Slack, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to devices for conveying slack coal from elevators and mines by means of an air-blast. Its objects are to provide means to prevent the blast from blowing back into the hopper, an improved means for feeding the slack into the chamber at the discharge end of the conveyer, and means to adjust the blast-pipe at different angles to connect it directly to the blower in whatever position it may be convenient to place it.

The invention consists in the peculiar combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in. the accompanying drawings, in connection with which it will be first fully described, and then particularly referred to, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of so much of a slackremover as is necessary to illustrate our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View of the same through line :0 a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken centrally through the enlarged chamber which receives the slack from the conveyer. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central vertical sectional view illustrating our preferred form of conveyer-chamber and adjustable blast-pipe. Fig. '5 is a plan view of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the various views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, A is the conveyor-chamber, which is open at the top and has a surrounding outwardly-projecting flange a, upon which the box B, which is the base of the hopper, rests. This box has an outwardly-projecting flange b, which, like the flange a, is perforated to receive the bolts or rivets for securing the parts together. The conveyer-case, hopper, blast-pipe O, the supporting-framework, and the conveyenshaft D do not differ materially from similar parts employed in machines now in use and need not therefore be specifically described.

The conveyenflights E are made in sections or halves, formed upon half-boxes e, having opposite perforated flanges to receive bolts, by which the sections are clamped firmly upon the conveyer-shaft. By this means the flights may be readily secured upon the conveyorsliaft after it is fitted in the case. They are much more durable and cheaper than the form of worm used in prior devices, and the feed is more positive.

The receiving-chamber F at the forward end of the conveyor-chamber and blast-pipe O has an outwardlyprojecting perforated flange, by which it is secured to the forward flanged ends of the conveyor-chamber and blast-pipe. Within this chamber is an inwardly-inclined flange f, extending entirely around the chamber to furnish a seat for the flap-valve G, which is hinged underneath the inner part of the flange f. This valve is preferably formed of lead with a sheet-iron facing on top to prevent wear from the slack or coal passing over it; but it may be made entirely of iron, if desired. The object of this valve is to prevent the air-blast through the pipe 0 from passing back to the conveyer-chamber and forcing the dust or light material out through the hopper when it is not fully supplied with slack. When the hopper is well supplied and the conveyor in motion, the weight of the slack carried forward would throw the flap-valve down to the position shown, discharging the slack or coal over it to meet the blast from the pipe, which reaches it with increased force underneath the valve. Should the hopper not be fully supplied, so that the worm would feed the slack readily enough over the top of the Valve, the force of air would close the valve up against its seat and prevent any back pressure of air passing through the conveyer-chamber.

Upon one side of the receiving-chamber is a hand-hole having a surrounding flange'or rim f to receive the cover, the joint being closed by any suitable packing. The cover in the view, Fig. 1, is removed.

In the preferred form of our device (illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5) the forward end of the conveyer-chamber A curves downwardly and terminates in an outwardly-projecting recessed annular flange a. The blast-pipe G has an upwardly-projecting branch 0, which has an outwardly-projectin g annular flange to flt within the recessed flange a, and a downwardly-projecting branch 0 with an annular base e to fit within a recessed step 0 The receiving-chamber F, formed by the downwardly-bent end of the conveyer-chamher and the vertical branch of the blast-pipe, is divided by the flap-valve G; but instead of the valve-seat being formed integral with the chamber, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, it consists of a perforated sheet-metal disk or ring P, which is seated between the flange a of the conveyer-chamber and the flange of the up wardly-projecting branch 0. The flap-valve G is hinged to the disk or ring f at one side, and in use operates the same as the valve described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, inelusive, but, owing to its being located farther above the blast-pipe, is allowed more play in falling away from its seat.

The purpose of fitting the receiving-chainber and b1ast-pipe as shown in the preferred form of our invention is to make the said chamber and blast-pipe rotatably adjustable relative to the eonveyenchainber for convenience in attaching the blower directly to the blast-pipe G and carrying the discharge to any desired point relative to the position of the conveyer-chamber. The blast-pipe and receiving-chamber are connected to the downwardly-bent end of the conveyer-chamber by bolts passing through the outwardly-projecting flange a and into the flange upon the branch 0 of the conveyer-chamber. By this means the blast may be carried parallel with the conveyer-chamber or at an angle to it, as shown in dotted line of Fig. 5. The blastpipe leading to the receiving-chamber has, as shown in full line, Fig. 4, and dotted line, Fig. 1, its opening contracted, so as to direct the blast from the blower with greater force toward the center of the discharge-pipe at the outer end of the receiving-chamber.

\Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a slack-remover of the conveyer-chamber, the hopper mounted thereon, the conveyer journaled to revolve in said chamber, the reeeiving-chamber at the front of the conveying-chamber having an inwardly and downwardly inclined flange extending around it to furnish a seat for the upwardly-closing hinged valve, the valve hinged to the inner wall of said flange and adapted to open into a blast-pipe from a blower, and a blast-pipe connected back of said valve to force the air past it and into the discharge end when the valve is loaded by material on its upper side and to force the valve closed and prevent the blast from entering the conveyer-chamber when insuiflcient material is delivered upon the face of the valve, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the conveyer-cha1nber, bent downwardly at its forward end and provided with an outwardly-projeeting flange, the conveyer journaled to revolve within said chamber, the hopper mounted upon said conveyer-chamber, the receivingchamber and blast-pipe formed integral and fitted rotatably adjustable at any desired angle to the eonveyer-chamber, and the upwardly-closing valve between the receiving chamber and the downwardly-curved end of the conveyer-chamber,substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the conveyer-cha1nher, A, having its front end bent downwardly and an outWardly-projecting recessed flange, a, the conveyer journaled to revolve within said chamber, the hopper mounted upon said conveyer-chamber, the blast-pipe, 0, having an upwardly-projecting branch, 0, fitted within the flange of the conveyer-chainber,a downwardly-projecting branch, c,having annular flange, c, the step 0 within which said flange is fitted, the disk or ring fitted between the flange of branch 0 and of branch at, whereby the receiving chamber and blast-pipe are rendered rotatably adjustable with relation to the eonveyer-cha1nber, and the flap-valve, G, hinged to said disk, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

XVILLIAM W. VAINXVRIGIIT. EDGAR D. JOHNSTON. Vitnesses tEo. 1i. FULLERTON, I). '1. Rooms. 

